A repeat DUI offender from Texas who drove drunk down the wrong side of the Diagonal Highway last summer and caused an accident that injured two people -- including one who remains in a coma -- was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Boulder judge Friday morning.

Dean Carlson, 56, pleaded guilty in November to two counts of vehicular assault while driving under the influence, both Class 4 felonies, and two counts of vehicular assault, both Class 5 felonies. He also pleaded guilty to DUI, reckless driving and driving down the wrong side of a divided highway, all misdemeanors.

As a condition of the plea bargain, Carlson could not be sentenced to more than 15 years in prison. Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett asked Judge Gwyneth Whalen to sentence Carlson to 15 years, citing Carlson's previous history. Carlson had three previous DUI convictions in New York and Texas, and had gotten his driving privileges back just before the accident on the Diagonal.

"This is serious, we cannot be enabling this conduct," Garnett said. "The DA's office and this court must send the message that if you have multiple DUIs and hurt someone, there will be significant consequences."

According to investigators, Carlson was driving north in the southbound lanes of the Diagonal Highway in a rented Chevy HHR around 4 a.m. July 21, 2012, near 55th Street when he struck Daniel Mays, 28, and his girlfriend, Sean Balog, 23, in a black Toyota Yaris heading south. He admitted to drinking earlier that night on Pearl Street and had a blood alcohol level of 0.221 two hours after the accident.

"It is quite scary for the court to think about Mr. Carlson driving aimlessly on the roads for God knows how long," Whalen said. "It was really just a matter of time before someone was hurt."

Mays remains in a coma, but his mother, Robin, testified at Friday's hearing that his family was not giving up on him.

"They said he wouldn't survive the night, but guess who's still alive and fighting," she said. "Daniel believes in miracles, and because of that I go and stand with him at least three times a week and pray with him."

But while she said her son is still alive, she told Whalen what Carlson did has had a lasting impact.

"He ripped my family apart, he destroyed my boy's dream," she said.

Balog -- who was present at the hearing but did not speak -- also suffered serious injuries in the accident.

Before he spoke to Whalen, Carlson turned towards Balog and whispered, "I'm so sorry." He then told the court he would never forgive himself for what he did.

"Words cannot express the sorrow and guilt I feel," he said. "I was stupid, too selfish and not man enough to accept my weakness to alcohol. I have severely impacted the lives of two young adults who sounded like wonderful kids ... . I know I will never be able to right the wrongs I've done."

Carlson's attorney, Nelissa Milfeld, asked Whalen to sentence Carlson to eight years in prison, saying he was remorseful for what he had done and planned on using his experience to help others.

"No amount of prison time will undo the tragedy that has happened," Milfeld said. "Mr. Carlson takes absolute responsibility for what he did. The only person who he blames is himself."

But Garnett said remorse was not enough for someone who had such a lengthy history of driving while drunk.

"Most people go their entire lives without getting a DUI," he said. "You have to try pretty hard to get two. And three is indicative of an extremely dangerous person. I have no doubt that each time he was remorseful. People are almost always remorseful when they're sober, that's what alcohol does to a person."

Whalen agreed, also citing the extent of the injuries suffered by Mays and Balog.

"Mr. Carlson didn't intend for this to happen," she said. "But two people have been impacted for the rest of their lives. If one looks purely at the result of the conduct, it's no different than a person who got a gun and wanted to physically harm someone."

But Whalen said she appreciated that Carlson was remorseful and wanted to help others in prison and once he was released.

"This is a pivotal time for you in your life," she told Carlson. "Your life isn't over. Use this experience to better yourself and better the lives of those around you."

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